Peak Design Journey Tripod Assessment

As an expert journey photographer, I’ve used plenty of journey tripods over time, together with fashions from Manfrotto and Vanguard.

At this time, I’m going to be reviewing Peak Design’s journey tripod, which I’ve been utilizing within the discipline for the previous a number of months to see the way it compares to different journey tripods.

I’ve really been a fan of Peak Design’s merchandise for a very long time. They make a variety of images equipment, and I significantly like their carry strap system which I’ve been utilizing for years on my cameras. Additionally they have a variety of well-liked baggage.

My expertise thus far with their merchandise has been very constructive, they’re nicely made and backed by a superb guarantee and help program. Let’s see if that high quality has prolonged to their journey tripod. I’ll share my ideas on utilizing certainly one of their journey tripods for the primary time.

Peak Design Journey Tripod Assessment

Peak Design launched their journey tripod (through Kickstarter) in 2019, with basic availability coming in 2020. This was their first and is presently solely tripod.

It’s now been in the marketplace for a while, and I assumed it was about time I gave it check and overview. Let’s begin with the specs.

Peak Design Journey Tripod Specs

There are two variants of the Peak Design journey tripod in the marketplace in the mean time, an aluminum mannequin and a carbon fiber mannequin.

The one distinction between the 2 is the fabric in use, which impacts the burden (and worth!). All the opposite specs are the identical. Right here’s a fast overview of the primary specs.

• Load capability – 20lbs (9.1kg)
• Max peak heart column raised – 60″ (152.2cm)
• Max peak heart column down – 51.25″ (130.2cm)
• Weight aluminum mannequin 3.44lbs (1.56kg)
• Weight carbon fiber mannequin 2.81lbs (1.29kg)
• Packed peak: 15.4″ (39.1cm)
• Packed diameter 3.125″ (39.1cm)

The retail worth of the aluminum mannequin is $379.95, and the carbon fiber mannequin is $599.95. You examine the newest costs and purchase it direct from Peak Design right here, on Amazon right here, and from B&H Picture right here.

This tripod actually matches what we search for in a journey tripod, which is a mix of portability and load capability.

In addition to the uncooked numbers, there are a number of further options of the Peak Design journey tripod I needed to spotlight.

First, the tripod is designed from the bottom as much as be tremendous transportable. The principle means that is achieved is with the top design, which may be very compact. The ball head principally matches flush into the tripod when packed away and takes up barely any area.

The flip locks, triangular leg design, and small heart column additionally all contribute to permitting this tripod to fold down actually small.

I’ve used plenty of journey tripods over time, and this one is certainly among the best designs I’ve used by way of the way it packs away to take up a minimal quantity of area.

The ball head can also be fairly good. There’s an built-in bubble stage to make sure your digicam is flat, and the flip lock design makes attaching and eradicating your digicam very straightforward. It’s also possible to lock your digicam into place with the flip of a toggle, which provides nice peace of thoughts.

One other neat characteristic is the mixing of a telephone head mount. This lives inside the middle column, and has a quick-release mechanism for straightforward set up.

It then attaches on to the tripod mounting plate and lets you use your tripod along with your smartphone. This could work with just about any smartphone in the marketplace as we speak.

It’s a pleasant worth add and can also be nicely designed and durable.

One last item I needed to spotlight is the carrying case. That is typically an afterthought with tripods, for those who even get one in any respect.

Properly, Peak Design is understood for his or her baggage and their tripod case is beautiful. It appears nice, the tripod matches inside securely, and it’s each padded and weatherproof. It’s lacking a strap, however there are add-ons to make it appropriate with the Peak Design carry system.

Okay, so these are the primary options. What is that this tripod like to truly use in the true world? Let’s discover out.

Peak Design Journey Tripod – Ideas on Actual World Use

I desire to do a overview based mostly on actual world expertise, so I traveled with the Peak Design journey tripod as my major tripod for a number of months to see the way it carried out within the discipline.

As it is a journey tripod, I anticipate it to be one thing I can carry with me when climbing, so I took it with me on various hikes up numerous Welsh mountains in addition to different barely much less strenuous strolls. It has additionally been on extra leisurely journeys within the UK, France, and the USA.

Once I’m testing a journey tripod, there are some things I’m all in favour of. First, it needs to be light-weight, as a result of nobody needs to hold greater than they should.

This tripod undoubtedly meets that requirement, even the aluminum model is gentle sufficient that I don’t should suppose twice about including it to my gear for a visit.

The subsequent factor I search for is how straightforward the tripod is to arrange and put away. Once I’m climbing, I don’t need to have to spend so much of time placing a tripod up and down every time I see a possibility for a shot.

The Peak Design journey tripod undoubtedly works in that regard as nicely. I’m usually not a giant fan of flip-lock legs as they’ll catch on my digicam bag when organising and placing away.

Nonetheless, on this case they’re nicely designed in order that doesn’t occur, they usually make arrange and put down a breeze.

The way in which the digicam attaches to the top additionally works nicely. That is one thing that different tripods don’t at all times do as nicely at, particularly when utilizing the Peak Design carry system which has the carry strap hooked up to the tripod plate.

The Peak Design carry strap hooks on the digicam base plate can typically get in the way in which of straightforward attachment to the tripod head. Clearly, this being a Peak Design tripod, that challenge has been thought by, and the digicam simply attaches to the tripod head even with the strap nonetheless hooked up.

There’s additionally a helpful locking mechanism on the tripod head that makes it straightforward to make sure the digicam is correctly hooked up to the tripod head.

In fact, any tripod is simply price its salt if it really offers a steady platform for taking pictures from.

I’ve used it with a full-frame mirrorless digicam paired with a heavy 100-400mm lens, and it carried out very nicely. I additionally used it with my extra regular panorama wide-angle lens, and even with the smartphone adaptor.

Throughout, this tripod carried out very nicely and let me get the photographs I needed, even the lengthy publicity photographs the place the tiniest motion can destroy the whole lot.

The ultimate factor I want in a journey tripod, or any tripod for that matter, is ease of operation.

Now this one was a little bit of a studying curve for me. The design of the Peak Design tripod head is that it slots down into the legs. Nonetheless, it’s a must to partially prolong the central column (round an inch), to get full motion.

Earlier than I acquired used to the tripod, I’d attempt to transfer the top to the place I needed, however not be capable of as a result of the top solely has full freedom of motion as soon as the central column has been partially prolonged.

Extending the central column isn’t arduous, however it’s a further step to recollect to do.

As soon as the top is prolonged, adjusting the top is simple. It’s a ball-style design, and to regulate the angle of the top you loosen the management ring, transfer the tripod head to the angle you need, after which tighten the management ring.

That is all very straightforward and intuitive when you get used to it. That is actually vital, particularly for those who plan on doing any astrophotography or Northern Lights images, as you would possibly have to function the tripod in very darkish circumstances the place you’re working by really feel.

So that’s plenty of constructive issues. Are there are points I encountered? Properly, sure.

The principle draw back I found, which is the primary destructive of this tripod, is an absence of separate pan and tilt controls.

Once you loosen the management ring to regulate the top, you’ll be able to transfer the digicam up, down, left, and proper. Nonetheless, you’ll be able to’t pan or tilt individually.

So, for instance, when you have your shot framed nearly completely, however need to shift the view a number of levels to the left, it’s a must to watch out to not tilt the digicam up or down on the similar time.

This additionally makes duties like taking pictures panoramas much more difficult. Many tripod heads, together with many ball heads, supply separate pan and tilt controls, so you’ll be able to pan independently of the lean management.

Now, actually, whether or not or not it is a massive deal will rely so much on the images you wish to take. In the event you take plenty of panoramas, then it will seemingly be a much bigger challenge.

The excellent news is that the management ring additionally controls the friction, that means you’ll be able to loosen it solely a bit of after which simply watch out as you progress the digicam, with friction in your facet to forestall undesirable actions on the incorrect axis.

Nonetheless, with a heavy digicam setup it may be difficult to solely transfer in a single course.

The opposite factor to remember is that over time the flip locks on the tripod leg sections can develop into unfastened, that means that the legs don’t keep prolonged. That is simply an total challenge with all flip lock legs on tripods I’ve used.

This will occur with any tripod, however Peak Design have thought forward and included each a device to regulate the leg flip lock tightness, in addition to a helpful clip which lets you connect the adjustment device to a tripod leg.

You simply need to bear in mind to deliver this with you whenever you journey, in case a leg wants tightening up whenever you’re within the discipline.

Lastly, while the addition of the bubble stage is appreciated, the sunshine shade and means it’s positioned signifies that my digicam covers most of it up, making it tough to see and never very helpful as soon as my digicam is about up.

Actually, most cameras and smartphones lately have a built-in stage characteristic anyway, so I not often use the bubble stage on a tripod, however I needed to say it in case it was vital to you.

General, I undoubtedly loved utilizing this tripod within the discipline, and it has earned a spot in my images bag for positive.

Peak Design Journey Tripod Professionals and Cons

Having coated my expertise utilizing the Peak Design journey tripod within the discipline I needed to share a fast rundown of what I felt to be the primary professionals and cons of this tripod from a journey images perspective.

Professionals

• Light-weight, even the aluminum model
• Folds down very small
• Works nicely with the Peak Design clip system
• Very nice tripod bag
• Can convert to tabletop tripod
• Constructed-in smartphone holder
• Lifetime guarantee

Cons

• Costly, particularly for carbon fiber mannequin
• No straightforward panning management
• Some constraint on portrait orientation shot

General,l I undoubtedly suppose it’s journey tripod. The principle draw back is the associated fee is fairly excessive, particularly if you’re contemplating the carbon fiber mannequin, which prices much more however solely provides a modest lower in weight.

I feel most individuals could be pleased with the aluminum mannequin because the options are the identical.

Peak Design Journey Tripod Options

Once you begin researching tripods, you will rapidly be taught that there are a fantastic many tripods in the marketplace, and actually, it may be arduous to inform them aside.

The principle choices will come all the way down to how a lot you need to spend and the way vital specs like most load capability, most peak, minimal peak, folded peak and many others. are to you.

Most tripods mess around with these specs, so you must be capable of discover the proper tripod for you. I needed to spotlight a number of choices to think about, and you may see extra choices in our information to the finest journey tripods.

Gitzo Traveler Sequence

Any comparability of tripods, particularly high-end tripods, goes to incorporate point out of Gitzo. These are typically considered among the finest tripods in the marketplace, though they have an inclination to come back with a reasonably eye-watering price ticket.

Nonetheless, the Peak Design carbon fiber tripod isn’t precisely a funds mannequin, so I really feel it’s truthful to match it towards a tripod of this caliber.

There are fairly a number of tripods within the Gitzo Traveler sequence. I’d say essentially the most comparable mannequin could be the Gitzo Traveler, sequence 1, 5 part tripod.

This carbon fiber tripod has a most peak of 58.46″, a folded dimension of 13.98″, a weight of three.13lbs and a max load capability of 22lbs. It has a retail worth of $719.99.

So in comparison with the Peak Design carbon fiber mannequin, the Gitzo has a barely smaller folded peak, weighs barely extra, and has a barely decrease most peak.

Vanguard VEO 3 GO 235CB or 265HCB

A fast observe, I’m a Vanguard Ambassador and have been since 2014, and I’ve used plenty of their gear over time, lots of which I’ve additionally reviewed.

I feel their merchandise supply so much, and I’ve been very pleased with their gear in use around the globe.

The 2 major tripods I feel they presently produce which you would possibly think about as a substitute of the Peak Design Journey Tripod could be from the Vanguard VEO 3 Go vary, and particularly the 235CB or 265HCB fashions.

These are each carbon fiber tripods, however with a retail worth round half that of the carbon fiber Peak Design Journey Tripod mannequin.

The 235CB is the smaller tripod, with a most dimension of 53.5″, a folded dimension of 13″, a weight of two.3lbs, and a max load capability of 8.8lbs. It has a retail worth of $269.99.

The carbon fiber variant of the Peak Design tripod has a a lot larger load score and a better most peak, but additionally weighs extra and doesn’t fold up as small. It’s additionally greater than twice as costly. One to think about when you have a smaller setup that gained’t problem the utmost load score.

The 265HCB is the taller tripod, with a most dimension of 65.5″, a folded dimension of 16.1″, a weight of three.1lbs and a max load capability of 22lbs. It has a retail worth of $339.99.

The carbon fiber variant of the Peak Design tripod has an identical load score and a decrease most peak, however weighs much less and folds up a bit smaller. It’s practically twice as costly.

Each Vanguard tripods additionally convert to monopods and include a smartphone adaptor and Bluetooth distant shutter set off. They’re additionally accessible in aluminum, at a cheaper price level and a better weight.

The aluminum VEO 3 Go 235AB retails for $219.99, and the aluminum VEO 3 Go 265HAB retails for $269.99. Usually the simplest means to economize on a journey tripod is to decide on an aluminum mannequin over a carbon fiber one.

In the event you’re on this product, or any of the opposite Vanguard merchandise, it can save you cash utilizing our unique Vanguard low cost code. This will provide you with 20% off the whole lot within the Vanguard retailer.

Simply use the code FindingTheUniverse to your low cost! This Vanguard low cost code works within the Vanguard USA, UK, Australia, Spain, and Germany shops.

Do you have to Purchase the Peak Design Journey Tripod?

Actually, solely you’ll be able to reply this query! Nonetheless, having used it for various months I can undoubtedly say that it’s a well-made tripod. It really works very nicely and has sufficient intelligent design options to make it stand out in a really crowded market.

Once you add up all of the little additional issues like the great bag, smartphone holder, and compatibility with different Peak Design merchandise, it finally ends up as a very well-rounded product.

In fact, there are lots of different tripods in the marketplace at different worth factors, however I don’t suppose you may be upset for those who determine to go for it.

You should buy it direct from Peak Design right here, on Amazon right here, and from B&H Picture right here.

Additional Studying

That’s it for my overview of the Peak Design journey tripod – I hope you discovered it useful. Earlier than you go, I needed to share a few of our different content material which we predict you will discover helpful.

• Our overview of the Vanguard VEO 2 265CB tripod after three years of normal use.
• A overview of the Vanguard VEO 2Go 265HCBM, the VEO 3+ 263AB and the VEO 3T+ 264CB.
• We’ve a information to why you want a tripod, a information to selecting a journey tripod, and a round-up of our favorite journey tripods
• We’ve a information to the right way to use a compact digicam, the right way to use a DSLR digicam, and the right way to use a mirrorless digicam. We even have a information to how a DSLR works
• Understanding the right way to compose a fantastic photograph is a key images ability. See our information to composition in images for plenty of tips about this topic
• We’ve a information to what depth of discipline is and whenever you would need to use it.
• We’re massive followers of getting essentially the most out of your digital photograph information, and do to that you’ll want to shoot in RAW. See our information to RAW in images to grasp what RAW is, and why you must swap to RAW as quickly as you’ll be able to in case your digicam helps it.
• You’re going to want one thing to run your photograph enhancing software program on. See our information to the very best laptops for photograph enhancing for some tips about what to search for.
• In the event you’re on the lookout for extra recommendation on particular suggestions for various situations, we additionally have you ever coated. See our information to Northern Lights images, lengthy publicity images, fireworks images, suggestions for taking images of stars, and chilly climate images.
• In the event you’re on the lookout for a fantastic reward for a images loving pal or member of the family (or your self!), check out our images reward information,
• In the event you’re out there for a brand new digicam, we now have an in depth information to the finest journey cameras, in addition to particular guides for the finest cameras for climbing and backpacking, the finest compact digicam, finest mirrorless digicam and finest DSLR digicam. We even have a information to the finest digicam lenses.
• If you need a digicam or lens, however the costs are a bit excessive, see our information to the place to purchase used cameras and digicam gear for some funds financial savings choices.

Trying to Enhance Your Pictures?

In the event you discovered this publish useful, and also you need to enhance your images total, you would possibly need to try my on-line journey images course.

Since launching the course in 2016, I’ve already helped over 2,000 college students learn to take higher images. The course covers just about the whole lot it is advisable know, from the fundamentals of how a digicam works, by to composition, gentle, and photograph enhancing.

It additionally covers extra superior matters, together with astrophotography, lengthy publicity images, flash images, and HDR images.

You get suggestions from me as you progress, entry to webinars, interviews and movies, in addition to unique membership of a Fb group the place you will get suggestions in your work and participate in common challenges.

It’s accessible for a tremendous one-off worth for lifetime entry, and I feel you must test it out. Which you are able to do by clicking right here.

Word: We have been despatched this product at no cost to see how we favored it. I selected to write down this overview based mostly by myself private opinion of the tripod after utilizing it for some time. All opinions are our personal.